CM Maryam announces 3-day Basant festival in March 2027 after ‘successful’ return last year

Lahore’s 2027 Basant festival will be held from March 12 to 14, 2027, following its “successful” return last year after an 18-year hiatus, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif said in a post on X on Tuesday.

“Lahore will once again come alive with colour, culture, festivity, music, energy and legendary hospitality,” she wrote.

In December 2025, the Punjab government lifted an 18-year ban on the historic festival, subject to strict regulations under the Punjab Kite Flying Ordinance, 2025.

Under the ordinance, police officers of the rank of sub-inspector were empowered to make arrests and conduct searches without warrants based on credible information.

The festival was banned in 2007 following an increase in deaths and serious injuries caused by sharp kite strings, particularly among motorcyclists and pillion riders, as well as by celebratory gunfire.

In her post, CM Maryam said the celebration is for “the youth of Punjab and Pakistan”, inviting them to “come together, create memories, and make Lahore shine with your energy and spirit”.

“To our overseas Pakistanis and international guests, mark your calendars and come home to the warmth, colours and festivities of Lahore,” she wrote.

The Punjab government, in May, announced a new set of rules and regulations for kite-flying during next year’s Basant festival. At the time, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari had said that the festival would be celebrated in February 2027.

According to the new rules, running, jumping and hanging over the edges on rooftops have been completely banned. The rules also prohibit the “overcrowding of rooftops”, adding that the “number of persons present on a rooftop at any time shall not exceed its safe load-bearing capacity”.

Meanwhile, the rules also hold the organisers of events responsible for managing the size of the crowd. The new rules also prohibit the “use of loud music, DJ systems, high-decibel sound systems, or any other activity causing noise pollution or disturbance to public order and tranquillity”.

To maintain public decorum, the new rules have banned any act “causing nuisance, harassment, obscenity, indecent behaviour, or disturbance to neighbours or the general public”. Under the rules, such acts will be considered an offence under Sections 290, 292-A and 509 of the Pakistan Penal Code

The new rules also mandate the availability of first aid kits and access to them at all premises where kite-flying activities are organised. Under the rules, in case of accidents or violations, building owners and event organisers will be held individually and jointly responsible.

Basant Panchami, with ‘panchami’ meaning the fifth day of the lunar month Magh, is a celebration of future crop prosperity, spring, and good luck.

Historically, in the 19th century, Maharaja Ranjit Singh held an annual Basant fair and introduced kite flying as a regular feature. The association of kite flying with Basant soon became a tradition centred in Lahore, which remains the regional hub of the festival throughout Punjab even today.

However, the festival has also traditionally been celebrated in other parts of Punjab, including Indian Punjab. Over time, the festival began to be celebrated across the country. During the festival, the city sky is filled with colourful kites of all shapes and sizes flown from rooftops.